Good evening! Yesterday, people celebrated the WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY and ALPACA DAY. I want to make an art for both celebrations but making an art for each would take me a longer time so I've decided to create a drawing where I would combine them both.

I am calling this drawing..

"THE ALPACA HUG"

Every year, there are about eight hundred thousand cases of suicide all over the world. It's very alarming to see that suicide cases are these high but it's not surprising because of the world we live in today. Hopelessness is what pushes one to take his own life. If a person is drowned in darkness and he feels like there is no way out to the hole he is trapped into, there is a high tendency for the person to be suicidal. Well, to be fair, there are various circumstances that could lead to suicide. One popular causes being reported on the news is bullying. This is one of the main reasons of celebrities taking their own life. The latest to take the headline was the Japanese actor Haruma Miura. Taking your own life is really very sad because that means he had lost interest living, that life has become too much or no longer has meaning for him.

According to WebMD, some signs of a suicidal person are moodiness, hopelessness, sleeping problems, sudden calmness, withdrawal, changes in personality or appearance, dangerous or self-harmful behavior, trauma, making preparations, and speaking about suicide. Read the details for each signs here: Recognizing Suicidal Behavior

If you know someone who has these signs, you can help him by letting them know that you are there and you care for him. You don't have to give solutions and don't ever judge. Well you can ask him if he wants to seek treatment but don't force him if he declines. Every person has different levels of emotional/mental tolerance and resilience. The best help you can offer is your presence and that you accept him despite his condition. Let him know that he is never alone.

Meanwhile, let's talk about alpacas next! I've known about alpacas for some years now. The first one I saw was an alpaca stuffed toy posted by a cosplayer I've been following. This certain cosplayer loves alpacas and so most gifts the fans would give were alpaca toys. I think alpacas are very cute and I dream of seeing a real alpaca someday!

The alpaca is the smallest in the camel family and often confused with llamas. The usual height at the shoulders is three feet. Alpacas originated in South America and are known to be gentle. They are domesticated and their fur is one of the best there is. It's water and flame-resistant, smoother and softer than silk and cotton, and hypoallergenic. Young alpacas are called Cria.

And maybe it's a coincidence that these two events are celebrated in one day because I've read that alpacas can be therapeutic too! In Canberra, the city capital of Australia, they bring alpacas to hospitals to help patients feel relaxed and happy. Saving people through cuteness! Truly an alpaca power! Read the article here: 'As many smiles as possible': Therapy alpacas bring relief to Canberrans

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Alright! Going back to my drawing, I drew a girl hugging and thanking an alpaca for brightening her day and keeping her sad thoughts away. The clouds around that is galaxy looking represents her thoughts, dark thoughts in particular, which is moving away as she hugged the cute animal. There are different causes for someone to be suicidal but there are also different ways to overcome it. For someone, it might be a cute and fluffy alpaca.

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DRAWING PROCESS

Medium: Digital (Wacom Intuos Comic)
Program: Clip Studio Paint Debut
Time: Approximately 3 Hours

Here is an alpaca video for you to enjoy. :D

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Hive PH badge by @bearone. :)

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